I
love Wichita Falls. I like and admire the vast majority of kind
people living here. I lived here for 2 ½ years in 2011 through
late 2013, and came back in March of this year. There are 104,900
people in this city, and the GREAT NEWS is at least 104,000 of them
are fantastic, terrific, giving, loving, kind people. They care, they
share, they take an interest, they smile, they contribute. Time and
again I have seen this community come together in terms of tragedy or
crisis. From my 2nd day here I was fascinated with
the Downtown architecture and “feel;” good strides have been made
and CONTINUE to be made in it's “revival,” but it's just so
damned cool to me I like to just walk around there and take photos.
It reminds me of Liverpool in many ways, and I'm ALL FOR helping to
promote it despite a few individuals dropping the ball and not using
the photos I took free of charge and offered to submit FOR its
promotion. Perhaps in the future.
The
fly in the ointment are a handful of unprofessional,
dishonest, good 'ol boy network, lying glad handers that have to a
limited extent “spoiled my experience.” As is the case anywhere,
fly by night liars exist but not to the level I've seen here. It's a
disgrace, as well as a disservice to the great folks here whose
handshake, word or promise certainly mean something. I'd like to
outline those instances both to get it off my chest and send out a
friendly warning that not everyone who smiles is your friend. We have
all, especially those involved in business / sales, experienced
flakes. It's part of the human condition anywhere and everywhere. But
egregious LYING, especially when my returning here was BASED on
trusting someone, is a different matter. Thanks for reading and here
they are:
1) I was friends since 2011 with a Realtor here. I spoke with her on the phone over a hear ago whilst still in Palm Springs and considering returning here. It was a GREAT nearly one hour phone call and I thanked them for taking the time. We discussed Real Estate photography, markets in Wichita Falls vs California, and other topics including the Realtor's not being happy with an existing Wichita Falls photographer complete with a list of faults. 6 months later when I was preparing to come, I called and said “you don't have to commit to a certain NUMBER of listings to be photographed, but would you use me as your photographer?” I was trying to hit the ground running with some “pre-sold clients.” The Realtor said “Yes. Sure.”
During
my first month here I got an email saying they would use me “next
month.” I acknowledged that and said thanks. Couple of weeks later,
a text saying “I have one Monday.” I texted back and said weather
would be better Tuesday. That was agreed. Friday of that week, it was
canceled. “No problem,” I thought. The Realtor said “I'll use
you for the next one.”
That
was 5 months ago. I never contacted them again. Why bother? Four
lies in a ROW:
-
I will use you if you come
-
I will use you in the next month
-
I will use you on Monday
-
I will use you for the next one
tells
me it's both not going to happen and isn't WORTH it
happening. I never had this in California. 11AM Tuesday
meant 11AM Tuesday. If someone isn't interested they'll TELL YOU,
politely. Saves everyone time, effort and most of all “hoping or
expectation.” I found it odd that the “photographer with faults”
opened an Instagram 2 weeks after I arrived here. Not only that but
lovey-dove comments on her page from someone who originally wasn't
happy. All I can surmise is that THAT photographer was a local and I
AM NOT. I AM an “outsider from California.” I posted a YouTube
video examining perspective problems and all of a sudden the
“competition” was taking steps to correct just that in their
photos. Odd, huh? My tips are being fed to the person being used in
lieu of me on an Instagram account created at the time I came, which
by the way copied some of my hashtags. It doesn't get any more smarmy
or high school; I blocked them both. “
2) About a month ago a gladhanding "man about town" contacts ME for social media help. We talk in message, then on phone, and he's all kinds of interested. He asks for a meeting, which is usually unnecessary but I agree and we meet at a coffee shop. I read 2 clues immediately...A) He walks in with HIS OWN coffee & sits down; I purchase mine (and give the waitress a 100% tip). B) Tells me during meeting he gets up early & reads the Bible every morning. Also tells me "oh, if I weren't proceeding I wouldn't even be here."
He tries to pick my brain for free, which I think was the plan all along, but he'll have to get up a little earlier than that. Meeting ends with him saying he'll get with me next week. Following week, nothing. Now it's 2 weeks. Not only do I not think I'll hear; I just don't care and furthermore don't even want to work with him. If this is how he lies with me, how bad is he screwing customers? Recently I noticed there's a “social media seminar” being offered at the Chamber of Commerce Dec 7th. ONE GUESS who is giving the talk?
You would think somewhere in that Bible would be something about honesty. I'll tell you folks, from not chiseling a waitress to friendships of 40+ years, I sleep REALLY WELL at night. I was raised with ethics, decency & honesty. And I don't need a Bible to give me or anyone else that "impression." If you ask for help, take up my time and decide not to proceed, that's fine. Call and say “no.” Don't be a “prayerful warrior” who then charges $50 to people to give them knowledge you obviously don't have, after committing to me for a 3 month promotion plan because you don't have the knowledge. It absolutely pains me to think of people paying good money for that who won't come away with a shred of practical tools. That's the reason I don't speak to groups; without a reach on supportive network, you might as well open your bedroom window, scream what it is you do, and slam the window shut. These “gurus” usually have 80 followers on Instagram or Twitter or something, and propose you get a Facebook "Like Page." Don't get me started on those! LOL!
3)
Several days ago a now ex-FaceBook friend checked in
where he works a part time job. The check in led to a page showing a
horrid 1-star rating out of 5. This was broadcast to all his friends
and/or anyone who shared the post or commented. Since I was also
friends with his boss, the General Manager, I sent her a message
pointing it out. She messaged back something to the effect of “OMG
thank you for pointing this out, it's a generic FaceBook generated
page and that looks dreadful.” Since she didn't have access or
ownership (which is why I contacted her, hoping she did), I told her
there was a solution … if she went and gave it 5 stars, the
employee did the same, and I did it … that would make 3 5s and a 1
totaling 16, divided by 4 … would be 4-star rating. At least better
than one!
10
minutes later the employee blocked me on FaceBook. I messaged her to
advise her of that … and then SHE blocked me. In other words,
“thanks for pointing out a glaring 1-star review on a hotel I
manage, but we've both blocked you for your trouble.”
What
the hell is in the water here?! Since when do you try
and help with a DREADFUL stupid goof bringing attention to a 1-star
review, only to be blocked? Really?
WOW. Three instances of ignorance on a stick. But I won't let them soil my image of a good city full of MOSTLY GOOD people. The vast majority, in fact.
So,
to conclude… I can see someone “dropping the ball;” When I
photographed the Zales Building Dedication the person from “Downtown
WF” didn't have a good enough camera for the group shot at the end.
I tapped her shoulder and said “No worries, mine is wide enough,
get in the photo. Email me later (I gave her my card) and I will send
you the pic to use.” NO EMAIL. EVER. Never wrote. Another example?
I met the new owner of a rather famous building in Downtown Wichita
Falls and he said “Oh, you're a photographer… I need a shot of
the building for a postcard flyer.” I said “No worries, I've got
one you can use for free with my logo at the bottom.” He said
“Great, give me you email and I'll email you today.” I said
“Alright, just make sure you remember and I'll send it to you
ASAP.” NO EMAIL. EVER. Neither of these cases would
have cost them a penny; I was offering for free. NO
FOLLOW THROUGH. No sense of urgency. Really?
You
can't save everybody. What you can do is insist on PayPal prepayment
before wasting your time with lying flakes. You know what's funny?
People think that would be the standard procedure in Los Angeles
where I'm from. You know … “those Left Coast L.A. flakes”
mentality. NO ONE THERE tried to shaft me. Ever. I'm glad I'm not
more gullible or I'd have suffered a loss. I feel like I have anyway
~ not financial but with regard to faith in humanity. The good news?
>> While I'm convinced that 5% of the people here have
all the money and pull, and the other 95% are struggling picking the
peanuts out of their own turds … the 95% are nicer people. We can
and should rise up against this archaic “Good 'ol boy network”
and demand people be accountable. That's how we would judge any of
you moving from Wichita Falls to Los Angeles. There are NO
“outsiders” there; you're immediately and always welcome. You're
judged on your word, character and results.
It's
a cool concept. And we didn't go to Ryder High. Imagine that. I'll
SHOW YOU "outsider."
COME
ON PEOPLE! From clerks in the stores to independent shop owners, from
cab drivers to artists, from people in animal rescue to wait staff,
from nurses to folks in piercing/tat shops … this town is CHOCK
FULL of great people! Do as I'm going to try and do, and that is
forget the weasels. A tad difficult since it seems they appear to be
“in charge of all things commerce,” but they can be replaced with
the honest folks. How? By promoting a business or person YOU TRUST
and calling out the liars. Simple. Give credit for that great
haircut. Rave about something. REJECT glad handers who have never
done a single thing FOR YOU but manage to have everyone ELSE fooled.
Get involved, especially in “leadership” positions in the City.
Not necessarily government; it can be helping promote a cause or
business up upcoming event. I even started a FaceBook group to do
just that; it's up to almost 800 members and it takes some of my time
to maintain but I don't mind at all. Friend and message me on
FaceBook if you'd like to be added. OR … start your own! Every
little bit helps.
Thanks
for reading especially if you endured all of my rather long “Magna
Carta” blogs. There are short answers and there are correct
answers; there are very few short correct answers. For that reason I
tend to be wordy but complete :) I hope you and your families have a
safe and wonderful Christmas and feel free to contact me if you have
thoughts or suggestions as to how to overcome a few insects ruining
the great “pie” that is Wichita Falls.
Be
safe xo
©Paul
Roberts
